MAXIMARATHON: A RUNRACE FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY!
Since 1996, nuclear industry workers all around the world have been racing long distances somewhere in the planet, for the promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
These amateur athletes, representatives of their colleagues of the nuclear industry, wish to remind the public and the decision-makers the many advantages of nuclear energy for the environment protection, job creation and electrical independence. This is a message of peace to the world by workers and professionals from the nuclear industry.
This event aims to convey the message of a technical progress share by everybody, which constitutes the success of the electronuclear industry.
Since the first year the maximarathon has been run in several countries like France, Belgium, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Rumania, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Cuba and Japan.
The 14th edition race event will be held in Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro to Angra dos Reis, the region where the nuclear plants of Angra 1 e Angra 2 are located. The route distance of 116 km will extend from NUCLEP headquarters to Itaorna beach.
With PWR reactors, Angra 1 came into operation in 1985 and Angra 2 in 2001. Angra 3 construction start is expected for this year. Together the three plants add approximately 3,300 megawatts to the Brazilian Power System.
Located in one of the most beautiful areas of the Brazilian coast, the "Green Coast", as is called the area around the plants, it is a mix of natural beauty and cultural heritage. The tropical forest covering the lush mountains face a deep green sea, with hundreds of islands and bays. Several rivers, waterfalls, fishes and birds add to the beauty of the landscape.
In addition to this natural paradise, the region offers a historical overview of Brazil, in the architecture and the cultural heritage of the harbour town of Parati, a true jewel of the Brazilian colonial period and today one of the favorite destinations of tourists and foreign travelers in the country.
A section of the old trade route, today a tourist road, the Rio-Santos highway, will be the track for the Brazilian maximarathon runners.